Farzad Mehregani escaped from Iran in 1985 and thought he was free from the many injustices imposed by the Islamic regime there. That changed on May 16, when he learned that his cousin, Afif Naeimi, had been arrested and imprisoned for his religious beliefs.
Mehregani said Naeimi was taken by Iran's Ministry of Intelligence because of his high standing in the administration of the Baha'i Faith in Iran. Baha'i is a religion practised worldwide, but is considered illegal in Iran despite the fact that it teaches non-violence and the unification of humanity.
"I was deeply troubled when I heard that he had been arrested," said Mehregani. "I hadn't spoken to him in a few years but I remember him still from when I was in Iran. He was someone who everyone respected when we were growing up and he was voted into his religious position."
Naeimi was arrested along with five other Baha'i leaders and joined a seventh member already in custody. When word of the arrests filtered out of Iran, the actions were quickly condemned by members of the international community.
Canada's former foreign minister, Maxime Bernier, recently told the United Nations that "Canada is deeply concerned by the arbitrary arrest ... These individuals were detained solely on the basis of their faith. This is unacceptable."
None of the arrested Baha'i leaders has been given access to lawyers and they have been unable to communicate with relatives. It was initially believed that they had been placed in Iran's notorious Evin prison, but now, two weeks later, it is unclear if they are still in that facility.
"The Iranian government is accusing them of being spies but I know that he is innocent," said Mehregani. "There isn't much that anyone in Canada can do except ask that they be given a fair trial and competent lawyers.
"It's not the same system in Iran as it is here. Lawyers aren't immune from persecution and can get in trouble if they defend someone that the government doesn't like."
Mehregani is a practising member of the Baha'i faith, which is part of what prompted him to escape from Iran during the Iran-Iraq war. Along with several friends he rode on horseback over the course of three nights to Turkey, hiding during the day in caves along the way.
He eventually made it to Canada and after taking a year of courses in English as a Second Language, he went to the University of Alberta and got a degree in electrical engineering. Four years ago he moved to Regina with his family and he now works for SaskPower.
There is a small Baha'i community in Regina, all of whom have been awaiting news on the fate of the arrested members in Iran. There are more than 300,000 followers of the Baha'i faith in Iran who are forced to follow their faith in a heavily monitored atmosphere.
"A lot of times in Iran, people are just taken away and they disappear," said Mehregani. "I don't want that to happen to him and I hope that international governments can make Iran see that they are responsible for the security of their people and that the Baha'i people pose no risk."
http://www.canada.com/reginaleaderpost/news/story.html?id=309a9d81-13f8-4280-826d-92373280b91b
